Proclaimer of the Word

As of today, I am once again a lector.

It's been a long time, around a year and a half since I last was a reader in church.  It's been a long journey from then to now.  I am relieved to be worshipping at All Saints, and to experience the Spirit working in my life.   I have been drawing closer and closer to God, in faith, and I hope, in action.

Being a lector is more involved here. The duties include carrying in the book of Gospel readings and standing it on the altar, as well as the intercessory prayers and announcements.  But reading the selected readings of the day is something I feel I can do well.  It was all the "other" duties that had me worried.

But today, at last, I was lector.

 

And more than that, I was a "Proclaimer of the Word."

It is Well

Last Thursday, my Bible study finished the walk through Daniel, and Revelations. (We will resume with Matthew in September.) What a blessing those books were. Seriously, Revelations even says if you read it you will be blessed.

I have said so many times this year that the themes I picked up from both books was that there is a God in heaven, and He is on the throne. He is in control. How reassuring that thought is to cling to.

The study this year strengthened my discontent with where I was worshipping. It helped me when I made the decision to change. And that reassurance has remained with me as I studied the Catholic Church and beliefs and traditions.

It has also remained with me, leading me to my first confession and to my first Holy Eucharist in the Church.

I am home.

 

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Onward I Travel

The longer I walk on this journey of mine
The more I feel I am on the right line.
I read and I study, into books I roam
But I am certain I've found my spiritual home.

Sorry. Poetry month may be getting to me since I have been posting daily poems on my other blog, Farmmommusing.blogspot.com. But I am so enjoying my learning adventure. As I rhymed above, I am feeling more and more at home here at All Saints. There are many things I have to still study, but am finding surprisingly few disagreements as I journey. And I am learning it is ok to feel my way along and not worry about messing up as I learn.
Like I said in a previous post, it's like going home to a place I've never been before. In my past life I taught part time in a Catholic school, played guitar for Catholic Masses, and skirted around the church. I attended Christmas staff parties in a convent. I was active in a faith renewal movement that was founded by and filled with Catholics. I am finding more in common with the Church than I thought.
I am enjoying the journey.

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A Special Easter

After the Good Friday service that I spoke about here, I also attended the Easter Vigil service on Saturday evening. I had attended them at St. John's when the boys were young but it had been a while.

What a moving service it is, as we light the new Paschal candle outside and enter, with that light spreading though the darkened congregation it really made the feeling of the Light of Christ come into the world. (Ok, the candles held by the parishioners were battery operated, but the effect was the same). Then, when you add the chanting of the prayers, psalms and Litany of Saints by the choir, the service was truly beautiful.

The confirmation of the catechumens was touching to me as well, hoping that next year I will be among them. Now that the busyness of Easter and Holy Week is over, I have contacted Father Stanly to see if I can meet and talk with him. He was in India for his annual winter trip when I started attending All Saints. And with Lent starting immediately upon his return, it made sense to wait until there was a lull in the calendar. Now I can find out if there are ways I can participate in both worship and service of the church.

As a friend once called it: church work as well as the work of the church.

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A Holy Good Friday

Today, being Good Friday, I took myself to church. I attended both the Stations of the Cross, and the Celebration of the Lords Passion which followed.

I must say that I found these services more moving than any I had attended in years past.

I know I haven't posted on this blog in some time, but that doesn't mean my journey has halted. I find that the devotional I was given with the daily readings along with a meditation very helpful. (I had to subscribe, they are that good!) It is funny that in the past, the impression I had of Catholics was that they didn't hold the Bible to be of much importance. Instead, I am finding that the various services are full of the Bible. The scriptures seem to breathe through every part of the service giving it life.

I had a chance, today, to have a few words with Fr. Stanly. I want to talk to him about my background and learn what I can do at this stage to participate. I am anxious not to intrude where I shouldn't. But with a year before I can be confirmed, I would like to know what I can do, if anything in the meantime. I told him I would send him an email asking for an appointment, after Easter, when he has a chance to breathe. Now he will know it is from me.

The journey goes on.

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Just Keep Mozying On.

What was I thinking, starting another blog?

With my knitting consuming vast amounts of time, I also have been trying to to some reading. The object, especially this Lent to read books that will help keep me focused on the path I am am walking. So between the knitting and the reading, it doesn't leave much time for one blog, let alone two.

I may not have posted here, but that doesn't mean the journey has stalled. I find myself mentally composing snippets of posts, never when I have any time or materials to record them though. I can say this, this Lent has certainly been a reflective time for me. 

Maybe the fact that I am studying the book of Revelations has contributed to that reflectivness. It certainly has made me more aware of life and circumstances. I know I feel more secure in my faith. 

And, as I look around this old world of ours, more sure of where I am heading in the end. I know I am in no way perfected, but I that I am trying to be open to those nudges down the path I need to travel.

The Lost Service

I know my medically knowledgeable friends will get after me when/if they read this. Let me just say, I've learned my lesson, I hope. And I now have a roll of glucose tablets in my purse.

Yesterday, I planned on attending the 4pm Mass to be followed by supper out with the Hubby. I figured I better be sure to eat something before I left. That is the only problem with the 4pm service, I don't quite know how to plan my meals. I often have a late breakfast, especially if I pick up Younger Son from work at 6am, because I go back to bed when I get home. So knowing when to eat is a problem, if I am not hungry.

The problem lies with my diabetes.

I rummaged in the fridge and found a bowl of salad I had purchased when I got groceries the day before. I took my mess, including insulin, and started the salad. What I thought was pasta turned out to be cauliflower. The problem was, I should have had some carbs after the insulin. I didn't.

After arriving at church, I was there in time for the Rosary, but half way through I started feeling "funny", and was sweating, I didn't want to walk out, not sure I even wanted to walk, but I sat back and scarfed down at least a dozen Altoids mints. (Much more discreet than a granola bar or two in church.). I sat back for the rest of the Rosary, and started feeling better, although chilled and shaky during the Mass. I even to struggled to stay awake some. I popped a few more Altoids.

After the Mass, I got out to the car just fine. Before I drove home, I ate a couple granola bars, just to be save. When I got home to my meter, I tested at 77. When we went to supper, I didn't inject myself until I started my meal. And I cut it back a bit.

So, lesson learned? I hope so. Even though I couldn't finish the Rosary, I sure did a lot of praying. The mints helped, and I have a roll of glucose tablets in my purse now. And I will be sure to "carb up" before Mass. Maybe I better stick the meter in there too.

And, since I was in a daze during Mass yesterday, I watched it on tv this morning. And I have it programmed to record weekly.

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